Katy ISD Bubba Fife Relays

What a difference a week makes. After enduring miserable conditions last weekend, the weather and setup were perfect for the KISD Bubba File Relays at Paetow HS on Saturday. Under blue skies and pleasant temperatures, the Spartans had a pretty special day. Multiple athletes made the award stand, two new school records were broken, and lots of PR’s were achieved. Against a host of very talented teams from Houston, Austin, and San Antonio, our boys finished 5th out of 18 in team points, and our girls tied for 13th.

Kenneth Owen set off fireworks during the early-morning field events after he cleared 6 feet 9 inches in the High Jump, won first place (by 5 inches), and set a new SCHOOL RECORD. The previous school record of 6’8" was held by three former Stratford jumpers back in 1991,1996, and 1992. Kenneth’s jump currently has him tied for 4th in the Texas state rankings, and he’s only a junior.

Our boys 4000m Distance Medley Relay team of Jona Morford, Day’Vonne Singleton, Daylan Rushing, and Ben Pearce won first place in a new SCHOOL RECORD time of 10:22.95, shattering the previous school record of 10:30.01 that they set at the Will Taylor Relays two weeks ago. Katy Tompkins was second in 10:31 and Strake Jesuit third in 10:34. Our time is currently the Texas #1 ranking in the DMR.

Our boys 4 x 100m Relay team of Hunter Biehl, Aaron DeLeon, Nate Grant, and Luke Rives made the podium again this week with 3rd place and a blazing time of 41.67. The Stratford school record of 41.57 is in jeopardy from this squad that has their sights set on big goals this season. Katy Tompkins was first and Katy Paetow was second.

In the girls 1600m run, Niamh Collins used her strong finishing kick to earn 3rd place in a very good time of 5:11.20. Niamh is running strong as we head into the middle third of the season, and next week may be her first opportunity of the year to run an open 800m race.

The outcome of the boys 1600m run came down to the final 200m with four guys, including Ben Pearce, packed tightly together and winding up for the finishing kick. Ben and two runners from Austin Lake Travis and San Antonio Reagan broke away down the final stretch, and Ben secured third place on the podium. His time of 4:18.13 is a new PR and one that vaults him into an elite category of sub-4:20 high school distance runners.

Just barely missing the podium in other events were Luke Rives in the 100m with fourth place and a new PR of 10.88, and Nate Grant with fourth place in the Long Jump (22-00.25). Luke was also fifth in the Long Jump with his 21-09.75 marking.

Our girls 4 x 800 competed well and also barely missed out on a medal. Niamh Collins, Laura Gonzalez, Amelia Bommer, and Angie Salel finished fourth in a time of 10:29.15.

Additional Stratford athletes that finished top-20

• Zach Prudhomme - 7th Shot Put, 46-11.00
• Owen Duggan - 8th 3200m run, 9:54
• Aaron DeLeon - 9th 100m dash, 11.13
• Jack Boyce - 10th Discus, 135-08
• Mac Green - 11th Long Jump, 20-09.75
• Nykko McMillan - 11th 110m hurdles, 15.93
• Gretchen Loveless - 12th Discus, 102-01.00
• Myles Wheeler - 12th 110m hurdles, 15.99
• Amelia Bommer - 13th 3200m run, 12:47.98
• Paris Strange - 13th 100m dash, 12.61
• Avery Jackson - 13th Pole Vault, 8-00.00
• Andrue Williams - 19th 110m hurdles, 16.57
• Boys 4 x 800 - 7th, Jona Morford, Jake Rodriguez, Owen Duggan, Daylan Rushing, 8:33
• Boys Sprint Medley Relay - 11th, Hunter Biehl, Davis Kendall, David Zelaya, Jake Rodriguez, 3:46.65
• Girls 4 x 400m Relay - 12th, Cat Botacio, Liza Heitmann, Angie Salel, Paris Strange, 4:14.63
• Boys 4 x 200 Medley Relay - 16th, Hunter Biehl, Joseph Netter, Davis Kendall, Mac Greene, 1:34.65
• Boys 4 x 400m Relay - 10th, David Zelaya, Nykko McMillan, Daylan Rushing, Day’Vonne Singleton, 3:26.60

For the week ahead, JV and Freshman Teams will compete at Stratford on Thursday evening, February 29.

Varsity will travel to Pearland Dawson next Saturday, March 2 for the Will Sirmon Relays.